Setting up an NIS server

A number of items must be verified, and perhaps modified, in preparation of enabling an NIS server:

• Your network must be configured and operating properly before initializing NIS.

• Make sure the fully qualified hostname is set by running the hostname command. You should see the hostname and the default network domain name, for example, missouri.mynet.com. Usually, the network domain name and hostname are set up by the system startup script.

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  CAUTION: If your hostname and network domain name are not correct, you may have configuration problems with your network. However, changing the hostname and the default network name at this point may also force you to reconfigure other network services, such as sendmail, MMDF, and Samba. Refer to ``Configuring network connections'' for more information on network configuration.

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  Verify the following:

  • content of the /etc/yp/YP_MAP_X_LATE file on the server to be enabled (see ``Editing YP_MAP_X_LATE'').

  • status of the NIS domain name value on the server to be enabled (see ``Checking the NIS domain name'').

  • existence of the string /etc/yp in the PATH variable of the account that will be running the server enabling script (see ``Adding NIS to your PATH variables'').

See also:

• ``Planning an NIS configuration''

Editing YP_MAP_X_LATE

An NIS server reads the file /etc/yp/YP_MAP_X_LATE to obtain the list of files to service. Edit the file /etc/yp/YP_MAP_X_LATE to remove names of files you do not wish NIS to service and add those you do.

The file /etc/yp/YP_MAP_X_LATE supports a facility for mapping map names that are longer than operating system length limits into alias names; the maps are then allowed to reside on the system under the alias name but still be known to NIS programs by a universal map name. You must assign an NIS alias to a map if a map name exceeds the filename length limit allowed by your operating system (often 14 characters; however, EAFS and HTFS filesystems have a filename limit of 255 characters). For more information on aliasing map names see ypmapxlate(NF).

Verify that the files listed in /etc/yp/YP_MAP_X_LATE are complete and current on your master server. All files listed in /etc/yp/YP_MAP_X_LATE must be available to the master server.

See also:

• ``Understanding YP_MAP_X_LATE''

Checking the NIS domain name

Ensure that the NIS domain name is set to NULL by entering domainname at your prompt. If the screen returns anything other than NULL, enter domainname "". ypinit and mkdev nis do not enter the appropriate command in the NIS startup script unless your domain name is set to NULL. domainname(NC) sets or displays the name of the current NIS domain.

See also:

• ``NIS domain''

• ``Planning an NIS configuration''

Adding NIS to your PATH variables

For the root account, add the following entry to the PATH variable of the /.profile file (if you are running the Bourne or Korn shell) or /.cshrc file (if you are running the C shell):

   /etc/yp